Dell has created a budget version of its Latitude 10 Windows 8 tablet for more price-conscious customers. The new essentials level offers a configuration that drops some aspects of the original, such as being able to remove the battery or have support for a Wacom active stylus, in order to put the slate's price down to as low as $500.
Dell is set to update its Latitude series, including an Ivy Bridge-equipped notebook, according to a rumor. Sources of Tweakers.net suggest the Latitude 6430u will be thinner than its predecessor, while bringing a choice between Intel's Core i3, i5, or i7 Ivy Bridge processors.
Dell on Monday confirmed that it had stopped selling the Streak 7. The tablet is no longer available online and is withdrawing just months after Dell axed the Streak 5. In a statement, it said it would still be involved in the mobile space but conspicuously referred to the Streak 7 in the past tense, suggesting it was being phased out.
Dell overnight put up a pre-order page for its delayed Latitude ST tablet. The 10-inch Windows 7 slate is now known to cost $859 and, in the first wave of orders, should arrive by November 29. Base trim gives it a 1.5GHz Atom Z670 chip, 2GB of RAM, and a 64GB solid-state drive along with rear five-megapixel and front 720p cameras.
Dell has finally made its Latitude ST enterprise-friendly tablet official. The long-delayed Windows 7 tablet surfaced in an official promotional clip late last week. It has now been formally announced on Dell’s European Community forum.
Dell Malaysia has posted a video (direct link, embedded below) that has inadvertently spoiled details of the company's long-delayed Windows 7 tablet. The clip confirms a hinted-at Latitude ST name and lines up with the Peju slate leaked back in July. The 10-inch design has a unique iMac-style dock to turn it into a makeshift desktop with Ethernet, HDMI, and USB ports.
Foursquare marked its billionth check-in last week by launching a new version of its mobile apps. Version 3.5 of the Android (Market), BlackBerry (App World), and iOS (App Store) releases now or will soon have the lists feature once only available on the web. Along with the to-do list, it includes any custom-created list, such as favorite coffee shops or sushi places.
The possibility of Apple's Find My Friends feature grew stronger Saturday after web code was distributed by an anonymous source. While exploring a support system for the outgoing MobileMe, the AppleInsider contact found a block of code for tasks such as viewing the followed or following lists, statuses, and bans. Also mentioned are photo and video streams that might tie the support system or Find My Friends into iCloud's Photo Stream feature.
Dell’s Latitude XT3, first detailed in February is now available on Dell’s online store. The business-class convertible laptop is priced from $1,789 and is powered by Intel’s second-generation Core processors with integrated HD 3000 graphics and up to 8GB of RAM. It centers on a 13.3-inch display and runs Windows 7.
Dell's delayed Windows tablet has been given a codename and hard specs in an unusually vocal and detailed blog leak. Called the Peju or possibly the Latitude ST, the 10-inch slate would be an aggressive rival to ASUS' Eee Slate that eliminates some, though not all, of the weaknesses. Although it would still have a Core i5 processor, Dell Peju Insider claims the 5,500mAh battery would get about six to eight hours of real battery life versus just two for the 12-inch ASUS tablet.
Google marked a pair of milestones for its mobile mapping on Wednesday with both an app and the rise of mobile. Google Maps 5.5 for Android (Market) has received a newly overhauled section for mass transit stops designed to reduce the dependence on plotting a course for routes. A given stop will now show the upcoming departures with color-coded lines, all the lines regardless of the time, and nearby stations if the current one won't work.
New leaks from sources on Tuesday hinted that Dell's replacement for the Adamo will be more overtly distinct from the MacBook Air that Dell had originally tried to chase. Rather that go for similar sizes, they would start with 15.6-inch screens and focus on being the thinnest at that size. They would use Core i5 and i7 chips, although CNET's tips couldn't glean whether they were low voltage or full power processors.
Google has expanded its Latitude check-in service by partnering with thousands of retailers and shops across the US to offer check-in deals. Android and iPhone users can take advantage, with some places offering discounts, and others a free snack. Much like with Foursquare, users will have to gain status at their favorite places, however, by checking in every time they visit and doing so often.
Google late Monday posted an updated Google Maps app (Market) for Android devices. Most significantly, it brings with it the Google Location History dashboard, check in at home, and add new categories for rating places. The Location History shows users how far they've traveled and how much time they spent at home, work, and everywhere else.
Dell's head of global enterprise marketing Andy Lark told CIO in an interview Tuesday that he was certain the iPad would be overtaken in the enterprise by Android and Windows. He saw the runaway sales as having created the market for tablets in the office but that a "diverse, open, connected" approach would ultimately win. Dell would succeed because it had a "very considered" approach that included more than one operating system and addressed the workplace, not just the home, like Apple.
A Thursday afternoon 5.2 update to Google Maps for Android (Market) has given the app a much more social element. Latitude now finally supports interaction with others through "pings." Users can ask their friends to check in with a ping and get a notification to help find them after the check-in, such as when they've reached a local bar for a meetup.
Dell has detailed its new Latitude XT3 Windows 7 convertible tablet. Powering the device is a punchy 2.5 GHz Core i5-2520 dual-core processor matched with 2GB of RAM in standard trim. The 13-inch display is a swiveling-type and incorporates a dual-digitizer display that accepts multi-touch inputs from three fingers simultaneously, but also recognizes stylus input.
Dell this morning undertook a sweeping remake of its pro PCs, headlined by its Latitude notebooks. The new designs are both more modern, with real aluminum and magnesium instead of plastic, but also designed to take much more real-world abuse. The frame is about 112 percent more durable, including a break-resistant barrel hinge rare on Dell notebooks, and has a unique single access door that lets users replace virtually anything if parts are available.
Google Latitude received a major update that saw it hop on the bandwagon mostly created by Foursquare. The feature now has check-ins to help locate friends and allows attaching photos with captions. While there's no points system, frequent check-ins give rewards in the form of becoming a regular, VIP or guru on a location's Google Places page.
Dell has expanded its netbook lineup with a new model, the Latitude 2120, which is designed with businesses in mind. The 2120 brings the same 1366x768 multi-touch display option as its predecessor, but with a new configuration that integrates a dual-core Atom processor.
N-Trig hopes to revive the mostly dead market for pen-based tablet computing with Android support, VP Gary Baum said Monday. The company plans to supply screens for several Android tablets next year that would recognize pressure-aware pens. One unnamed device would ship in the first half of the year, Baum told AllThingsD in a conversation.
Dell is planning to upgrade many of its pro notebooks to take advantage of Intel's Sandy Bridge processors and other breakthroughs, according to multiple leaks. The Latitude E6420 and E6520 would be direct replacements for the existing, respective 14- and 15.6-inch model that would both use faster processors. The Dell Lab insider doesn't list specs for the E6420 but said the E6520 would have chips ranging from a dual 2.1GHz Core i3 through to dual 2.7GHz and quad 2.3GHz Core i7 options.
Google today briefly posted an iPhone version of Latitude on iTunes in Japan (App Store, since pulled) that hinted the native app would finally reach Apple devices. Like the Android version, it lets fellow Google account users see each others' position in frequent (though not real-time updates. The version that surfaced revealed that it had native iOS 4 support and would optionally provide background position updates.
(Updated with Google's Latitude privacy policies) Google today rolled out a new version of Latitude in Google Maps that has introduced an experimental real-time tracker feature. The option lets users choose to "temporarily" get live updates from individual friends. Seeing others only needs Android 1.6, but those tracked need to have Android 2.2 or later to broadcast their positions.
Google may make another attempt at a native port of Latitude now that iPhone 4.0 is about to be released, senior product manager Steve Lee said today. He mentioned that Google was "evaluating" Latitude for the new mobile OS. The developer didn't "anything to announce just yet" but was careful in conversation with TechCrunch not to rule out a native app.
Dell has quietly released a new notebook this week, the 13.3-inch Latitude E4310, which was spied early last week. The company also replaced its 10.1-inch Latitude 2000 with the Latitude 2110 netbook. The business-grade E4310 is offered with Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate in both 32- or 64-bit guises, and a Windows XP downgrade option. There are two processor choices, including 2.4GHz or 2.53GHz Core i5s.
Without any sort of official announcement, Dell is now offering a new notebook in its Latitude family with the E4310. The 13.3-inch notebook was first seen undergoing FCC testing under the Lafite codename. The business-grade notebook can be had with a slew of operating systems, ranging from Ubuntu Linux 9.10 through Windows Vista Home Basic to Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. There are only two processor choices, however, with dual-core 2.4GHz or 2.53GHz Intel Core i5s as the known options.
Dell this morning formally began sales for a slew of faster-performing pro notebooks. The Precision M4500 is now ready to order and is treated as Dell's fastest regular-size notebook. It supports the same quad-core 2GHz Core i7 and optional tertiary SSD drive as the M6500 but with a smaller 15.6-inch LCD. In its base trim, it ships for $1,549 with just a 2.4GHz Core i5, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive and a read-only drive, but it comes with a Quadro FX 880M for graphics and scales up to DVD burners and Blu-ray, 500GB drives and a 1080p screen.
As it promised last month, Dell today started taking orders for the Latitude 13. The 0.65-inch thick CULV system is now known to be an inexpensive buy and at $559 starts out with a 1.3GHz Celeron M, Ubuntu Linux, 1GB of RAM and 802.11g Wi-Fi. Every version comes with a six-cell battery, although Dell hasn't said how long the battery should last.
A filing with the FCC confirms that Dell's rumored upcoming ultraportable notebook for business users, the "Lafite," will join the Latitude notebook series as the E4310. Full specs were not available, but correspondence between the testing center and Dell engineers confirms that the notebook will have UWB (Wireless USB), Wi-Fi and 3G networking support. An integrated RFID chip will automatically enable wireless functions.
Dell has announced the Latitude 13, a thin-and-light notebook with a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display and all the enterprise features in its Latitude line. Although it shares the same 0.65in-thick aluminum case as the Vostro 13, the Latitude 13 will include a wider range of Intel's CULV processors, and other enterprise IT features designed to appeal to larger companies. Among these are a preinstalled Cytrix client, automated system image distribution for software updates, and recovery services favored by corporate IT departments.
Computer maker Dell has addressed the recently publicized issue with its Latitude E6400- and E6500-series notebook computers through a pair of updates (E6400, E6500). These PCs inexplicably throttled their CPU clock speeds to 1,000MHz, or less than half of their rated 2.2GHz speeds whenever their temperatures raised slightly or the CPU was asked to perform intensive tasks. The fix comes in the form of a BIOS update.
Owners of Dell Latitude E6500 and E6400 notebooks are complaining of a problem on online forum boards that cause their 2.2GHz Intel CPUs to perform at just 1GHz. The problem is said to be triggered by any task that requires the CPU to perform intensively, including playing videos.
After only a brief tease, Dell today formally unveiled the Latitude XT2 XFR. It's characterized as the first rugged convertible tablet to use capacitive multi-touch and is seen as ideal for use outdoors or at work where natural gestures, such as pinching to zoom into a map or flicking to scroll through a page, are more preferable to a pen. It nonetheless still works with a stylus and has a more outdoor-ready display that's more readily viewable in broad daylight.
An FCC filing (PDF) from Novatel has revealed that Dell plans to apply its rugged XFR badge to a tablet PC for the first time. Titled the Latitude XT2 XFR, it would take the company's familiar 12-inch XT2 convertible tablet but harden the system for use outdoors or in more dangerous workplaces: the body would have extra shock-absorbing protection, particularly at the corners and the hinge. It would also have protected ports to guard against dust or water.
Sony's VAIO X ultralight could be ready next month and have a second notebook follow along if a rumor tonight proves true. The 1.5-pound notebook would ship in November, according to CrunchGear, and would be a direct replacement for the VAIO TT. A strategy of the sort implies it will use a low-voltage Core 2 Duo, which would support Sony's claims of extra-long battery life.
Sony finished the week with word of one of the first wireless power systems that could supply significant amounts of energy. The approach uses a magnetic resonance technique that has the device operating on a frequency receptive to that of the energy itself. In doing so, the current form of the invention can supply up to 60W of power over about 19.7 inches, or enough to power many notebook computers and some smaller TVs.
Dell today unveiled a new flagship business notebook that should mark a number of firsts not just for itself but for the industry. The Latitude Z is the thinnest and lightest mid-size notebook to date at just 0.57 inches deep and 4.4 pounds despite its 16-inch display, courtesy of its use of ULV Core 2 Duo processors. However, it's also one of the first that can charge wirelessly: an inductive charging plate in the notebook bottom can power the system as quickly through contact with an optional charging stand as quickly as the optional AC adapter, Dell claims.
A recent soft Forbes article on Dell reveals that the PC maker will soon release a high-end notebook PC, the Latitude Z, that may have wireless charging capabilities. The flagship model, which was spotted at the FCC recently and may be released on October 25th, is being compared to halo cars, such as GM's Corvette, to boost the brand image and bring interest to Dell's products and foot and Internet traffic to its stores and website.
Dell's designer Latitude Z has garnered support today courtesy of an FCC filing for the ultraportable's government tests. Beyond confirming the notebook's existence, the use of only 802.11g Wi-Fi implies the base model won't have faster 802.11n. A diagram of the design appears to support a removable "hump" that would have an Ethernet connection, likely other ports, and possibly an extended-capacity battery.
Sony plans to launch VAIO portables with touchscreens as early as the fall, company senior VP Mike Abary said in an interview today. The electronics giant fully anticipates shipping "some" computers with touch features in the fall to coincide with the launch of Windows 7, which is due October 22nd and has much better hooks for touch interfaces than Vista. Specifics weren't mentioned to Laptop, but Abary explained these were more likely to draw on Windows 7's existing touch features rather than to have a customized interface.
Alleged leaked images appear to show a yet-unannounced Dell Latitude Z-Series notebook, according to a forum post on NotebookReview. The pictures show a dark two-tone finish and a thin profile, along with Windows Vista and Intel Centrino stickers. The notebook appears to place the Ethernet port on an angled surface behind the display hinge.
Dell has had a long history of ultraportables, but when Apple released the MacBook Air in early 2008, it underscored a wide gap in terms of design: while Latitudes have always been functional, they've rarely been alluring to home (or simply design-centric) users in the way the Air was. The Adamo 13 is Dell's attempt to rectify this with an ultra-slim profile and attention to quality. But is it a case of improving on what's come before or just a Latitude in better packaging? Our full Adamo 13 review hopes to settle this question once and for all.
Dell on Tuesday kicked off the launch of its first netbook meant for schools or business-oriented users. Unlike the Inspiron Minis, the Latitude 2100 is toughened against the rougher use likely in a class and has a sturdier chassis as well as a rubberized surface, including a unique texture on the lid that's deemed easier to grip. In a first for Dell and most non-tablet netbooks, the 2100 has the option of a touchscreen that can be used for very visual educational apps or just as a simpler alternative to the trackpad.
A leak on Friday hints that Dell is producing netbooks under the Latitude name. Gizmodo understands that the systems will be known as the Latitude 2100 series and will have the same style as full-sized Latitudes. Like the HP Mini-Note, though, its focus would be on the educational market and would involve bright color schemes like "Red Apple" and "School Bus Orange." It may also add a touchscreen that hasn't been present on any previous Dell netbook.
Dell this morning put the finishing touch on its newer-wave pro notebooks by launching the Latitude E6400 XFR. The significant overhaul improves on the already rugged design of the earlier XFR system by switching to a newer material known as PR-481. By giving the notebook the material as its main shell, the company says the E6400 can take drops from up to four feet while turned off (three feet while on) and last longer in extreme cold or heat. A special sealing approach also gives it a IP-65 rating against dust and water.
(Updated with pricing) Dell as promised has launched the Latitude XT2 as the second-generation of its convertible tablet PC. The new version comes with multi-touch support out of the box and uses pinches, swipes and other gestures to zoom and scroll through apps that support the features, such as web browsers and photo viewers. It also continues to carry a second digitizer and will work with a bundled stylus for more precise control or for drawing.
Israeli touchscreen maker N-Trig today revealed that it has received a total of $24 million in funding from a group of investors led by Microsoft. The American developer is the largest contributor and says its undisclosed amount is there to encourage the use of multi-touch technology with Windows 7, which is the first desktop Windows platform to be built with touchscreens in mind.
Dell may be in the midst of developing a new designer, ultralight notebook that would challenge Apple's MacBook Air, an investigation shows. A teaser for a product or product series known as Adamo has surfaced and has been accompanied by matching trademarks for computer hardware as well as early marketing material that infers an ultraportable notebook line competitive with the Apple system, which has a standard-sized screen but focuses on reduced thickness and weight.
The N-trig multi-touch technology will remain confined to mobile PCs, as per N-trig's VP of Business Development, Lenny Engelhardt, according to a Tuesday CNET report. Currently, the N-trig interface is available in Dell's Latitude XT tablet PC and, more recently, the HP TouchSmart tx2 tablet, with the interfaces sporting some minor manufacturer-specific differences. N-trig uses a thin and transparent capacitive touch sensor with its circuitry located on either side of it.
